NIA warns Delhi Police of terror strikes in city

New Delhi: Warning the Delhi Police of a possible terror attack in the city, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a letter said that the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) militants could trigger explosions in Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, Kashmiri Gate ISBT and Anand Vihar Railway Station.

In the letter, the NIA has also called for enhancing security measures in the above mentioned points and asked to install metal detectors and keep an eye on people.

Besides, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) also alerted the police force of several states including Delhi last month and warned of a terror strike by the SIMI terrorists.

According to a senior official of Delhi Police, the NIA wrote the letter to the department after collecting inputs based on the interrogation of actuator of SIMI terrorists Haider Ali alias Black Beauty and his other accomplices.

During interrogation, it was revealed that the group had carried out a recce of 26 crowded places in Delhi, Mumbai and other districts. Haider Ali himself recced some of the popular and crowded places in Delhi like Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar, ISBT Kashmiri Gate and Anand Vihar Railway Station.

According to the police, Haider, who hails from Jehanabad district of Bihar, is a well-educated person. It’s said that he is one of the prime motivators of SIMI and is trying to bring the outfit back into active mode after being into a ‘dormant’ state for a long time.

He acts as the link when it comes to introducing SIMI with other terror groups and was the mastermind behind Patna and Bodh Gaya blasts.

He infused venom in the minds of poor Muslim youth in Bihar and Jharkhand, urging them to take the path of ‘Jihad’.

After preparing Ranchi module, he triggered blasts at Bodh Gaya temple and then at Gandhi Maidan in Patna during Narendra Modi’s rally prior to Lok Sabha elections.

After these two incidents, the NIA along with other investigating agencies and Delhi Police started scouting for the terror groups. After an extensive investigation, Haider Ali’s arrest came as a major breakthrough.

After his arrest, three more terrorists were also apprehended and it was discovered that they were planning to carry out terror attacks at several places including Jharkhand capital Ranchi.

During investigation, it was revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the hit list of Haider Ali.